Another FA Cup chance has been blown by a Boro side which gave the impression it didn't matter.

Boro were frightened of Man Utd and never put a foot in.

If we are going to be nervous every time we play we won't beat anybody.

McClaren has to send the team out motivated or we will slide into the bottom half of the table and finish where we normally do.

The whole team was poor.

You can't see it getting any better until Viduka, Boateng and Riggott are back.

By that time any chance of finishing top six will have long gone.

We may regret not having signed anybody in the transfer window.

Anybody with experience would have done because we don't have any players.

JONTY SMITH via e-mail.

LAST WORD: Boro must make sure that all signings have a point to them, because the players will be here for a long time.

WHY is it that every time the FA Cup draw is made over the past five years or so, the Boro have been drawn against the big three, which has ultimately signalled our demise for another year?

By my calculations since 1999 we have been drawn against Man Utd three times, Arsenal twice and Chelsea once, with our only success the 2-0 win against United at the Riverside three years ago.

When you look at the luck the Geordies had with Yeading and Coventry, and Charlton with Rochdale and Yeovil, it's frustrating to draw the top teams every year and not get the chance to progress further.

As it was we never really troubled Man Utd.

Despite missing six or seven players, I was optimistic of at least giving them a game, but for me the game was over in the tenth minute when O'Shea scored.

Fourth spot is still a distant possibility with sixth place the more realistic.

The top six would still be an excellent season, but with the way we started this year, Boro fans have become greedy and want more.

We've still got the chance to progress in the UEFA Cup, so the season is still very much alive.

If we want to achieve these things we need the injured players back as soon as possible because performances like Saturday's aren't good enough.

DAVE THOMAS Cardiff.

LAST WORD: Some of the injured players won't be back this season. Boro must start winning without them.